Published: May 18, 2026 7:00 am
Community Economic Development Fund (CEDF) is a mission-driven, nonprofit Connecticut economic development organization. It provides business loans in disadvantaged communities defined by the state, and in other Connecticut municipalities it lends to business borrowers with household incomes below the state median.
Part of CEDF’s mission is to educate small business owners with free or low-cost training seminars. The next free webinar is planned for Thursday, June 25, 1-2 pm, “Keep Your Business Safe from Fraud.”
Fraud prevention is not about fear, complex technology, or assuming “it will not happen to me.” For small businesses operating in fast-moving, real-world environments, protecting a business is something far more practical — and far more essential.
A strong approach to fraud awareness is built intentionally, rooted in education, vigilance,…
THE ISUZU MOTORS PAYROLL FRAUD (GQEBERHA, SA)
Date: February 16, 2026 Perpetrator: Natasja Slabbert (42)
Case Description: In a case that hit home for the Eastern Cape business community, Natasja Slabbert, a payroll administrator at Isuzu Motors South Africa’s Struandale plant, was arrested for an alleged R10.5 million fraud. The scheme, which began surfacing in late 2024, exploited the very systems designed to manage employee compensation. Slabbert allegedly manipulated payroll records to create false entries that appeared as legitimate deductions and contributions on employee payslips. In reality, these “deductions” were being diverted into her personal bank account.
The fraud was only uncovered after diligent employees noticed that their net “take-home” pay was significantly lower than expected, despite the gross amounts on their payslips remaining high. Following a thorough probe by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team and the NPA’s Specialised Commercial Crime Unit, it was discovered that in August 2024 alone, over R626,000 was unlawfully transferred. Slabbert was granted bail of R5,000 on February 17, 2026, and the case has been postponed to later in the month for further legal proceedings. This case highlights the critical need for “segregation of duties” in payroll departments, as a single point of failure allowed for the systematic siphoning of millions over nearly two years.
Link to Original: PE Express – Isuzu Payroll Fraud